Does anyone like self-checkout machines? It doesn’t seem so. No one asked for these machines. Instead, corporate executives who want yet another yacht decided to force them on to us. Here are three reasons why these machines are bad for the customers, workers, and the country as a whole. 1. They kill jobs, resulting in a race to the bottom Working class Americans have faced a tough struggle the last few decades as jobs have become more scarce. Using self-checkout machines reduces the number of jobs, which increases the supply of workers who are desperate for any job. This puts downward pressure on the wages of existing jobs as the available unemployed labor pool increases. 2. Self-checkout machines don’t pay taxes Each job killed is a reduction in taxes paid by a potential employee. It’s also a reduction in taxes paid by the employer. This decrease in taxes paid means less revenue for government and, consequently, less services that it can provide to those in need. 3. Customers hate these machines Want to anger your customers? Put in a self-checkout machine. It’s a guaranteed way to increase checkout times and frustration as customers wait for an employee to help them with the constant computer errors and misunderstandings. Sections Good & Welfare
Does anyone like self-checkout machines? It doesn’t seem so. No one asked for these machines. Instead, corporate executives who want yet another yacht decided to force them on to us. Here are three reasons why these machines are bad for the customers, workers, and the country as a whole. 1. They kill jobs, resulting in a race to the bottom Working class Americans have faced a tough struggle the last few decades as jobs have become more scarce. Using self-checkout machines reduces the number of jobs, which increases the supply of workers who are desperate for any job. This puts downward pressure on the wages of existing jobs as the available unemployed labor pool increases. 2. Self-checkout machines don’t pay taxes Each job killed is a reduction in taxes paid by a potential employee. It’s also a reduction in taxes paid by the employer. This decrease in taxes paid means less revenue for government and, consequently, less services that it can provide to those in need. 3. Customers hate these machines Want to anger your customers? Put in a self-checkout machine. It’s a guaranteed way to increase checkout times and frustration as customers wait for an employee to help them with the constant computer errors and misunderstandings.